Postcode · London

SW3 5AY area guide

Who lives in SW3 5AY, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Neighbourhood: Chelsea Riverside East
Council: Kensington and Chelsea
Region: London
Neighbourhood population: 1,250 (2024)

SW3 5AYLondon

At a glance

What SW3 5AY is like

SW3 5AY is a postcode in the Chelsea Riverside East neighbourhood of Kensington and Chelsea. Nothing here is published for a single postcode, so these figures describe the neighbourhood around it: about 1,250 people. 36.9% of households own their home, 31.9% rent privately and 29.9% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 20–24, and 51.2% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is around the national middle. Homes in SW3 5 sold for a median of £907,500 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How SW3 5AY compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

3.0/ 10

More deprived than most — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

7/ 10

Around the middle — 35.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£907,500

Median over 42 sales in SW3 5, −36.3% on the year before.

TransportMore

10.0/ 10

Excellent — 11 stations within a mile, 45 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

of 21 rated schools within 1 mile are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£96,287

Average a year, before tax — higher than 98% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
31.9% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
12.6% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
A young populationPositive
25.3% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
04
More deprived than mostLook closer
On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 3.0 of 10. Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
05
A lot of social housingLook closer
29.9% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.

Questions

SW3 5AY FAQs

Is SW3 5AY a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 3.0 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 35.3 per 1,000 people a year, band 7 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in SW3 5AY?

The median sale price over the last year was £907,500.

Homes in SW3 5 sold for a median of £907,500 across 42 sales in the year to August 2026, −36.3% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is SW3 5AY safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 35.3 offences per 1,000 people a year around SW3 5AY, above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 7 of 10.

Who lives in SW3 5AY?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 20–24, at 9.3% of residents. 36.9% of households own their home. The most common home is purpose-built flat (75.6%).

Which council covers SW3 5AY?

SW3 5AY is in Kensington and Chelsea.

SW3 5AY is in Kensington and Chelsea, in London. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is SW3 5AY?

Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.

There are 45 bus stops within 800m and 11 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 10.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Cadogan Pier, 0.3 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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